Vibrator



United States Patent 2,988,084 VIBRATOR Warner A. Douglas, West Hempstead, N.Y., assignor to Douglas Products Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 760,106 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-41) This invention relates to a vibrator and, more particularly, to a vibrator for massaging the anatomy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibrator which, when applied to the anatomy, will produce beneficial results in the appearance and health of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vibrator which imparts to the anatomy not only vibratory action but also a soothing and gentle rolling action.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a vibrator having these aforesaid features yet whose components are inexpensive to manufacture and easy of assemblage. V

A feature of this present invention is the provision of novel means for accomplishing the vibratory and rolling motion of the vibrator over the anatomy of the user.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the accompanying description taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vibrator of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the vibrator 10 comprises a housing 11, which for appearance is preferably made of unbreakable plastic, although it will be understood that any suitable material may be utilized.

Depending from the upper portion of the housing 11 and contained therein is a vibratory motor 13 of the known magnetic type. A mounting or support 14 is provided for the motor and extends around the top and bottom thereof. The motor 13 has a conventional switch 15 which protrudes through the housing and is connected by wiring to an electrical outlet (not shown).

A base 16 is secured to the housing. This base preferably comprises a lamination of two layers of plastic material secured together.

A vibrating armature 17 is disposed beneath the bottom of the motor mounting 14 and is secured thereto either by screws as shown, or by any other suitable means. The vibrating armature preferably consists of an extended metal plate which, it will be understood, is caused to vibrate when the motor is in operation. The vibratory motion is imparted from the motor to the armature through the support 14.

Each of the layers of material comprising the base plate 16 has coextensive openings or apertures. Flanges 18a and 18b surround each of said apertures to form sockets 19. Rollers 20 are provided within the sockets 19. The flanges 18a and 18b loosely support the rollers and prevent them from falling through the apertures. A mounting for the rotatable rollers 20 is thus provided by the sockets 19. The rollers 20 are preferably ball-shaped and made of hard wood material, although, of course, any suitable substantially rigid material may be utilized. As shown, the bottom portions of the rollers project beneath the base plate for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

The base plate 16 is secured to the armature 17 by means of screws 21. A sleeve 27 surrounding the screws is provided to reenforce the support between the base plate and armature.

In accordance with the present invention, I have provided the bottom of the vibrating armature with sockets 23. The sockets are located so as to be over the top portions of the rollers 20. Ball-shaped members 24, preferably in the form of metal roller bearings, are disposed within the sockets 23 and rest upon the top portions of the rollers 20. The ball-shaped members 24 are prevented from falling out of the sockets by the rollers 20.

In operation, when the vibratory motor 13 is activated through the switch 15, the vibratory motion thereof is imparted to the armature 17 through the support or mounting 14. This vibratory movement of the armature causes the ball-shaped members 24 to shake within the sockets 23. This movement of the ball-shaped members, it will be understood, is a free and random movement inall directions. The contact of the ball-shaped members 24 be tween the armature 17 and the rollers 20 provides a unique and novel driving connection. It has been found this drive causes the rollers 20 both to rotate and vibrate. This action causes an extremely desirable and beneficial result when the rollers 20 contact the anatomy. The rotating motion of the rollers 20, imparted by the driving ballshaped members 24 assists the glide of the rollers over the surface of the skin, and together with the vibrating action, tones up the skin and relaxes the user. The sensa tion produced is both pleasing and desirable, assisting-in the reduction of fatty tissues.

It is to be noted that the aforesaid novel driving connection of the ball-shaped members 24 between the armature 17 and the rollers 20 provides a highly desirable and advantageous massaging device. The construction of the vibrator of the present invention is durable in nature.

It will be understood that while the massaging vibrator of this invention has been described herein in some detail, this description shall not restrict the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent said plate; rollers rotatably mounted in said base plate and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatomy; ball shaped driving members disposed between said armature and said rollers and engaging the latter, and means engaging said members with the armature for actuation thereby, whereby said members provide a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

2. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent said plate; rollers rotatably mounted in said base plate and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatomy, said armature being provided with sockets; and ball shaped driving members disposed in said sockets between said armature and said rollers and engaging the latter, said members providing a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

3. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent said plate; ball shaped rollers rotatably mounted in said base plate and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatomy, said armature being provided with sockets; and ball shaped driving members disposed in said sockets between said armature and said rollers and engaging the latter, said members providing a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

4. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent said plate; rollers rotatably mounted in said base plate and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatomy; at least one ball shaped driving member disposed between said armature and each one of said rollers and engaging the latter, and means engaging said member with the armature for actuation thereby, whereby said member provides a driving 3 connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

5. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating .armature disposed adjacent and secured 'to said plate; rollers rotatably mounted in said base plate and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatfomy; .at least one ball shaped driving member disposed between said armature and each one of said rollers and engaging the latter, and means engaging said member with the armature for actuation thereby, whereby said member provides a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers. 6,. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent said plate, said base plate comprising two layers of material provided with coextensive apertures therein, a flange surrounding each said aperture forming sockets; rollers rotatably mounted in said sockets and projecting therefrom to engage a portion of the anatomy; and ball shaped driving members disposed between said armature and said rollers and engaging the latter, said members providing a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

7. A massaging vibrator comprising a base plate, a vibratory motor connected with said base plate and having a vibrating armature disposed adjacent and secured to said plate, said base plate comprising two layers of material provided with coextensive apertures therein, a flange surrounding each said aperture'forming sockets; ball shaped rollers rotatably mounted in said sockets vand projecting from said base plate to engage a portion of the anatomy, said armature being provided with sockets, and at least one ball shaped driving member disposed in said sockets between said armature and each one of said rollers and engaging the latter, said driving members providing a driving connection with the armature to impart vibratory and rotary movement to the rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,604 Fritze June 18, 1901 20 1,833,107 Broad Nov. 24, 1931 2,521,874 Runstedler Sept. 12, 1950 2,674,995 Marino Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,580 Great Britain 1897 

